Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Wednesday said PUNCH newspaper has greatly embarrassed over its resolve to henceforth address President Muhammadu Buhari as a retired Major-General.
Speaking with Daily Independent, he said the newspaper has finally, come out of hiding having pretended all this while as a secret mole of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a titled “Buhari’s lawlessness: Our Stand”, PUNCH had stated that it will “henceforth prefix Buhari’s name with his rank as a military dictator in the 80s ‘Major General’ and refer to his administration as a regime until they purge themselves of their insufferable contempt for the rule of law.
The newspaper made the decision while making reference to DSS’ non-compliance to court orders on trial of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters; invasion of courtroom and trial of Shiites’ leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky amongst others.
Speaking with our correspondent, Sagay said by its action, PUNCH has shown utter disrespect to not only President Muhammadu Buhari but the entire presidency and the sovereignty of Nigerians.
“That is disrespect and discourtesy promoted to the highest level. As far as I am concerned, PUNCH has come out of hiding. It has been operating as a mole against this government for a long time. But now, it has finally come out in its true colour”.
To say that a President that was elected by this country does not deserve to be addressed as President because you disagree with something; for me, that is the limit of disrespect not just to the President but the presidency and sovereignty of this country”.
“I think the PUNCH people have exposed themselves and they might as well declare themselves as a party organ of the PDP and stop pretending to have any objective attitude to public affairs. It is a shame and a great embarrassment to any decent-thinking Nigerian” he said.
